Photographic-film developing and fixing apparatus.



H. A. R. COREY.

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DEVELOPING AND FIXING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION nun NOV. 20. 19H.

1,140,500. l Patented May 25, 1915.

D 3 Fig. 2.

Witnesses. InvenTor.

Harry AR. Corey b MWQW WW ATTys UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE- HARBY A. R. COREY, OFMATTAPAN, MASSACHUSETTS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-FILM DEVELOPING AND FIXING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. R. German a citizen of the United States, and resident of Mattapan, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Photographic-Film Developing and Fixing Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in photographic film developing and fixing apparatus.

The object of this invention is to obtaln an apparatus for developing and fixing photographic films which can be operated in daylight.

Another object of the invention is to obtain such an apparatus which is simple in operation, easily and cheaply made and is efficient and certain in its results.

A further object is to construct such an apparatus in which the danger of injury to the film prior to developing and fixing is reduced to a minimum.

In order to afford an understanding of this invention, a selected embodiment has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will now be described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the film reel showing its standard. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the assembled apparatus, the container being broken away to show in section the manner of assembling the component parts. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the reel tank partly in section to show the position therein of the reel with a film wound thereon. Fig. 4 is a plan of the outside of the top head of the reel. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the outside of the bottom head of the reel. Fig. 6 is a section of the reel on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing a film wound thereon, and Fig. 7 is a section of the tank taken on the line 7-4 of Fig. 2.

The reel 1 consists of a round shaft 2 to which are aflixed the heads 3 and 4. The shaft beyond the top head 3 terminates in a round portion 5, demountably and rotata-'. bly secured in the journal 6, while the shaft beyond,- the bottom head -i terminates in a portion which is substantially square in section. The squared end 7 of the shaft has a recess therein, into which is adapted to be screwed the crank and bearing 8 having a suitable handle 9 by means of which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed November 20, 1914. Serial No. 873,102.

the reel is rotated. The shaft 2, intermediate the heads is longitudinally out nearly thereacross and presents a substantially fiat surface on which the film lock 10 is adjustably secured by the two knurled headed screws 11. The reel is rotatably mounted upon the standard 12.

The inner facesof the heads 3 and i have fastened thereto' the film guides 13 and Lt. In this selected embodiment, they consist of thin, sheet metal strips spirally secured to the heads and the guides project, in this embodiment, approximately a quarter of an inch from the head faces. The lock 10 on the shaft 2 is adapted to receive and re tain the end of a film 15, which when the handle 9 is turned feeds into the reel, slightly bending as it enters the space between the guides. The inherent elasticity of the usual film causes it to straighten out and its sides to enter the convolute recesses between the spiral guides.

The reel 1 is demountably journaled in its standard 12 and is adapted to be positioned within the reel tank 16 which, in the form shown, is preferably made of thin sheet metal. The bottom of this tank has, centrally located thereon, a square pr0jection 17 which forms, on the inside of the tank, a recess into which is adapted to be received the square shaft end 7 of the reel. The cover 18 of the tank has thereon a similar projection 19, which, on the inside of the cover. forms a recess into which the other shaft end 5 of the reel may be positioned. The cover 18 has a wide flange in which is cut a locking means which, in this selected embodin'ient, is composed of two T-locks 20, each adapted to receive a stud 21 on the side of the tank. These T-locks function both to retain the cover on the tank and to permit the rotation of the cover from one locked position to another locked position. I

The head 4 of the reel has therefrom projecting, radial ribs 22 which preferably are punched out and form channels for the cir culation of a liquid into the spiral recesses in the head. The head 3 of the reel, as shown in Fig. 4, has cut therein a plurality of sector-shaped openings 24. each being of less area than the adjacent head segments. The tank cover 18 has similarly cut therein sector shaped openings The reel 1 is adapted to be placed in the tank 16 with its head 3 uppermost. The cover 18 being placed thereon and turned to the right to locked position, as shown in Fig. 3, the sector openings 24 of the head 3 are closed by the integral portions of the tank cover 18; and, as the integral portions of the tank cover are each of greater area than the head sector openings, they overlap the sector openings, making a fit suitably preventive of the passage of either light, liquid or air. The container 26, in this selected embodiment, is made of thin, light, durable sheet metal and has centrally located on the inside of its bottom face, a projection 27 afiording a recess 28, square in shape and adapted to receive the tank projection 17, thus securing against rotation the tank 16 when positioned in the container. The radial fins 29 project from the side of the tank 16 a distance such that, when the tank is placed within the container 26, they impinge upon the inside face of the container and aid in holding the tank in upright position therein.

The cover 30 of the container 26 has a centrally located inwardly projecting boss,

presenting a square-shaped socket 31 into which is adapted to be positioned the square-shaped projection 19 of the tank cover and by which means the tank cover 18 can be rotated upon the turning of the container cover 30. The cover 80 has a suitably wide flange thereon in which are punched grooves 33 which, in conjunction with lugs 34 on the outside of the container, form bayonet locks.

The operation of this improved device is very simple and it is easily manipulated. It is eflicient and certain in its results and is so constructed that it may be effectively used by one unskilled in the photographic art. It may be made in standard sizes for the dilferent size camera film spools by means, for example, of constructing longer shafts and providing wider heads bearing thereon wider guide strips spaced farther apart.

In the manipulation of this embodiment the reel and standard are placed within an ordinary photographers dark bag, impervious to light. The end of an exposed film i which it is desired to develop and fix is in serted between the shaft 2 and the film lock 10. The lock is then tightened down to the shaft by means of the knurled-headed screws 11 and the film end securely retained. The film spool is held in the fingers or by means of any suitable holder as, for eX- ample, a twisted wire mounted upon the reel base. The reel is rotated by its crank. The film is thus fed spirally upon the reel, each successive convolution being held away from the prior by means of the spiral guides on the inner faces of the two reel heads. The filled reel is then demounted from its standard 12 and inserted within the reel tank 16, the squared end 7 of the reel coming to rest in the square recess in the bottom of the tank and holding the reel against rotation with respect to the tank. The sector openings 24 are then at the top of the tank. The tank cover 18 is then placed upon the tank, the studs 21 entering the vertical slots of the T-locks 20. As the cover 18 is turned counter clockwise to locked position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the studs 21 impinge upon the ends of the horizontal channels of the T-locks. In this position the sector openings of the reel head 3 are completely covered by the overlapping sectors of the closely fitting tank cover 18. The tank may then be removed from the dark bag or other suitable receptacle as the tank and the reel have now become hermetically sealed and impervious to light, air or liquid. The tank is then placed within the container 26 which may or may not have been previously filled with any suitable photographic developing fluid. The radial fins 29 hold the tank centrally with respect to the container and the projection 17 of the tank bottom must then automatically be guided into the recess 28 in the bottom of the container 26 and hence the tank is retained immovably with reference to the container. The container is of such capacity, with relation to the tank, that an amount of liquid equal to the capacity of the reel contained tank is held above the tank when it is positioned within the container. A suitable liquid having been placed within the container, the container cover 30 is put thereon. The lugs 34, upon the turning of the cover 30 clockwise enter the grooves 33 of the bayonet locks, ride up the lock grooves, pressing the cover downwardly upon the container, and thus cause the socket 31 of the central downwardly projecting boss of the cover 30, to grasp the projection 19 of the tank cover and simultaneously to rotate it. The rotation of this tank cover 18, measured by the travel of the lugs 34 in the upper reaches of the bayonet locks, causes the sector openings 25 therein to be coincident to the sector openings 24 of the reel head. 3 and a clear passage for liquid to be afforded to the interior of the tank and to all parts of the film on the reel therein contained. The cover 18 is still retained upon the tank the lugs 21 now impinging against .the opposite end of the horizontal T-lock channel. By means of the inversion or rolling of the container and its contents a facile circulation of the developing fluid is obtained and a thorough and uniform chemical treatment of all parts of the film thereby attained. After the lapse of sufficient time to insure the proper developing of the film, the container is inverted and the liquid passes out the coincident sector openings of the reel head and tank into the container; The space between the tank and the cover of the container is such that all liquid may be drainedv from the tank. The container cover 30 is then turned to unlocked position which, through the agency. of the socketed boss, causes the sector openings of the reel head 3 to be closed by the overlapping sectors of the tank cover. The tank may then be removed either without or with removal of the developing fluid. The developing fluid having been removed, the container may again be filled, with a suitable fixing fluid, wellknown in the photographic art,-and the same process repeated; a further manipulation may be effected with water or any suitable cleansing fluid, if desired. There is thus produced a perfectly functioning rapid developing means which can be produced and commercially presented at a price attractive to every amateur. The working parts of this improved device are extremely few. It is simple, durable and conducive to cleanly manipulation and at once obviates the cost and necessity for the expensive dark-room.

While I have described a selected embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing I from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims annexed hereto.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- .ters Patent is:

.1. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus, comprising a standard, a reel adapted to be demountably journaled in said standard, means for securing a photographic film on said reel, a receptacle adapted to receive said reel and said film, a second receptacle adapted to receive said reel receptacle, said receptacles being adapted to re ceive a fluid, whereby said film may be chemically treated.

2. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus, comprising a standard, a reel adapted to be demountably journaled thereon, means for actuating said reel, means on said reel for receiving and retaining a photographic film in a series of convolutions whereby space is afforded between each successive film convolution, a receptacle to receive said film-carrying reel, a second receptacle adapted to receive said reel receptacle, said receptacles being adapted to receive a fluid whereby said fluid may chemically treat all portions of said film.

3. In a photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described including a standard, a reel adapted to be demountably journaled thereon, means for actuating said reel, said reel comprising a.

shaft and means on said shaft for securing a film end thereto, a pair of heads on said shaft, a spiral guide on each of said heads adapted each to receive and retain the edge of a whereby the image bearingportions of said film when wound on the reel may be held out of contact and be freely presented to the chemical action of a fluid.

4 In a photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described including a standard, a reel adapted to be demountably journaled thereon; means for actuatin said reel whereby a film may be Wound t ereon, said reel including a shaft, means for securing a film end thereto, op posed heads on said shaft and revoluble therewith, opposed spiral guides on each of said heads adapted convolutely to receive and secure a'film on said reel with space between successive convolutions whereby all parts of the image bearing portion of the film are held out of contact.

5. In a photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described including a standard, a reel adapted to be demountably journaled thereon, means for actuating said reel, said reel comprising a shaft and means on said shaft for securing a film end thereto, opposed heads on said shaft and revoluble therewith, said heads being secured to said shaft a distance apart substantially equal to the width of the film to be secured on said reel, opposed film retaining means on each of said shaft heads comprising a guide strip spirally secured to said heads, and projecting therefrom, said guide strip beipg of sufficient width convolutely to retain a film between said heads, whereby all parts of the image. bearing portion of the-film are held out of contact.

6. In a photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described including a standard, a reel adapted to be demountably journaled thereon, means for actuating said reel, said reel comprising a shaft and means for securing a film end thereto, a pair of heads revoluble with said shafts, a plurality of openings on one of said heads whereby a passageway for a fluid is afforded to said film, a plurality of telescoping receptacles for containing said reel, said head openings being normally closed by one of said receptacles, means for opening said passageway when said reel is in closed insaid receptacles whereby a fluid may freely circulate to, and chemically treat, all image-bearing portions of said film.

7. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described,

including a receptacle adapted to contain a fluid, a cover for said receptacle, means for retaining a reel within said receptacle, means on said reel adapted to retain a photographic film thereon, means in said receptacle for retaining said film light-proof and preventing access thereto by a fluid in said receptacle, means adaptable to aiford access to said fluid to said film whereby said film may be chemically treated by said fluid.

8. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described, including a container adapted to contain a fiuid, a cover for said container, a tank adapted to be received within said container, a cover for said tank, means adapted to be positioned in said tank and adapted to have secured thereon a photographic film whereby the portions of said film adapted to receive photographic images are retained apart, means in said container adaptable to retain said film light-proof and to prevent access to said film by a fluid in said container, means adaptable to afford an opening to said liquid to said film whereby circulation of said liquid to all image-bearing portions of said film is secured and means for closing said opening.

9. In a photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described, a container, a container cover, a tank adapted to be received within said container, a cover for said tank, a reel adapted to be positioned in said tank and adapted to receive and retain an exposed photographic film whereby the image-bearing portions of said film are spaced apart, said reel and said tank cover being adapted normally to retain said film light-proof and to prevent access to said film, means carried by said container coverfor rotating said tank cover whereby upon the turning of said container cover a passageway is provided from said container to said film on said reel and upon its rotation in reverse direction said passageway is closed.

10. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described, including a container adapted to contain a fluid, a cover for said container, a tank adapted to be received Within said container, a cover for said tank, a reel adapted to be positioned in said tank and containing a photographic film so that the image-bearing portions of said film are spaced apart and afiord free circulation to a fluid to said image-bearing portions, means on one headof said reel and on said tank cover adapted coiiperatively normally to retain said film light-proof and to prevent access to said film of said fluid in said container, means on said container cover adaptable to effect the cooperative action of said reel head and said tank cover to cause access to be aiiorded to said fluid in said container to said film whereby said film may be chemically treated by said fluid.

11. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described, including a container fldflpttd tocontain a fluid, a cover for said container, a tank adapted to be received within said container, a cover for said tank, a reel adapted to be positioned in said tank, said reel containing thereon a photographic film, means on one head of said reel and on said tank cover adapted cooperatively normally to retain said fi'lm light-proof andto prevent access to said film of said fluid in said container, means to retain said film light-proof and to afford access to said film to a fluid in said container, comprising a projection on said tank cover, a boss carried by said container, a tank adapted to be received within said container, a cover for said tank, a reel adapted to be positioned in said tank and adapted to retain a photographic film whereby the image-bearing portions of said film are spaced apart, said reel and said tank cover being adapted normally to retain said film light-proof and to prevent access to saidfilm, means adapted, upon the locking of said container cover on said container, to cause a passageway to be provided from said container to said film and upon the unlocking of said cover to cause said passageway to be closed, said film being continuously protected against light.

13. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described, including a container, a container cover, means for locking said cover to said container, a tank adapted to be received within said container, a cover for said tank having an opening therein, a reel adapted to be positioned in said tank, means for retaining said reel in said tank in substantially immox able position, said reel being adapted to retain a film thereon whereby the portions of said film adapted to receive images are held apart and free circulation of the fluid afforded thereto, said reel including a head having an opening therein, said opening being adapted to cooperate with said tank cover opening whereby a passageway is afforded from said container to said film, said film being continuously protected against light, means actuated by the locking of said container cover whereby said passageway is opened and closed.

ll. A photographic film developing and fixing apparatus of the character described, including a, container, a container cover, means for locking said cover to said container, a tank adapted to be positioned Within said container, a covei for said tank having a plurality of openings therein, means for locking said tank cover to said tank in a plurality of positions, a reel adapted to be immovably positioned in said tank and to retain thereon a photographic film, a head on said reel adapted to be positioned adjacent said tank cover and having a plurality of openings therein, said reel openings and said tank cover openings being adapted to form a passageway to said film, means adapted upon the locking of said container cover to cause said tank cover to be changed from one locked position to another and to cause said reel openings and said cover 15 

